I tend to stay away from menu items with marinara sauce - not just here, but anywhere. I was not raised on a very sweet tomato sauce and I find it a turn-off.

La Dolce Vita Italian Restaurant in Enola is something of a double-edged sword. It is a small, family-run restaurant in which the owner, Nino Basic, shows a lot of pride in his establishment. and he is immediately table side and does all he can do to make you feel welcome.He waits on the guests, his wife cooks the food, and he sons fill in the gaps, when and where needed.

And therein, lies the crux of the problem.

In a perfect world, this type of family attentiveness is a welcomed change from the norm. However, this is not a perfect world and I often walk away wondering who exactly our server was or if we even had one.

Still, if you can get past the "I'm your owner, host, waiter, server & everything in between" service glitch and the seemingly tacky interior, which is barely a notch above dining at the VFW, you'll find the food itself surprisingly good.

If you can get past the seemingly tacky interior, which is barely a notch above dining at the VFW, you'll find the food itself surprisingly good.

I don't often go out for Italian food because I end singing that little ego song, "Whatever you can make, I can make better; I cook Italian better than you..."

But I've been to La Dolce Vita a half dozen times and that should say something about the food.

The menu items range from just good to outstanding, and it is the outstanding ones that stand head and shoulders above the competition and keep me returning for more.

Unfortunately, that's how most commercial establishments tend to lean, so I simply avoid them. However, at La Dolce Vita, the sauce isn't overty sweet by any means, and I rather enjoy it. Although, there are still other menu items I prefer moreso; items like the Lobster Ravioli.

Vita's Lobster Ravioli is served in a sweet, creamy crab sauce that will have you begging for just one more, regardless of the large portion. The sweetness of the sauce is not sugary sweet, but rather, derived from the lush, sweet crabmeat itself.

The Shrimp Scampi sautéed in lemon, butter, white wine sauce with garlic and fresh herbs is another of my favorites. The shrimp is always succulent, fresh and never over-cooked into submission.

If there's one area La Dolce Vita missed the mark, it's desserts. Though it's not for a lack of trying. It's just that they tend to be a little heavy-handed with the chocolate and raspberry sauce garnishes.

Another worthy bit of info - Parking is a bit of a hassle as they have a small lot. The street is a far better option Word has it that La Dolce Vita is moving from Enola to Camp Hill in the near future. Hopefully, that will eradicate the parking issues. Still, I am a fan of La Dolce Vita and will return wherever they are.